Bay of Biscay. C. 1943-05. A RAAF Sunderland flying boat of No. 461 Squadron RAAF assisted in the ...

Bay of Biscay. C. 1943-05. A RAAF Sunderland flying boat of No. 461 Squadron RAAF assisted in the rescue of the crews of two other aircraft in the Bay of Biscay, receiving considerable damage in the process, and made history by landing on Angle airfield near Pembroke Dock, Wales, on its return. The story begins when another RAAF Sunderland aircraft was sent out to attempt to rescue the crew of a Whitley bomber who had been sighted in a dinghy 250 miles from land. The Sunderland alighted on the sea in a cross wind and sank, the captain being killed and the first pilot, 405404 Flying Officer R. Gipps, severely injured. The crew managed to get themselves and the injured man into their dinghy and made contact with the Whitley crew, eventually lashing the two dinghies together. Next day, a second Sunderland from the same squadron located the dinghies and, alighting near them, managed after careful manoeuvring, to get the two crews on board. A Fighting French destroyer was directed to the spot by a Halifax and put off a whaler to set about the job of getting the rescued men off the Sunderland. This was done, the crew remaining on board. An attempt was made at first to tow the aircraft but the heavy seas caused considerable damage and the project had to be abandoned, so it was decided to risk a take-off. Wave after wave struck the Sunderland with terrific violence and it was not until the seventh wave had assisted them to get their craft airborne that they succeeded. They arrived over their base and sent a message "Hull caved in; landing airfield" and, turning out to sea, jettisoned everything inflammable, padded themselves with cushions and mattresses, and prepared for the landing. The flying boat touched down at 60 mph with only a slight jar and came to rest on its port wing 160 yards further on. It's hull made a groove in the ground only 2 inches wide. The crew of the second Sunderland were: Captain 400841 Flying Officer (FO) G. O. Singleton of St Kilda, Vic; Navigator 401356 FO H. E. Winstanley of Geelong, Vic; Rear Gunner 407210 FO G. Viner of Adelaide, SA; Wireless operator mechanic Wireless Operator H. Church, RAF; 1st Wireless Operator Pilot 405223 Flight Sergeant (F Sgt) J. Lewis of Brisbane, Qld; 2nd pilot 415195 F Sgt P. E. Taplin of Midland Junction, WA; Flight Engineer 9429 Sergeant H. Hall of Moonee Ponds Vic. The whaler from the Free French destroyer is taking off the rescued crews from the second Sunderland aircraft. (See also SUK10983).